2025-05-24 11:11:58
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Hugo leaned forward slightly, his voice careful. “And… what is that, Mr. Watson?”Gary turned, pacing slowly around the table. “From now on,” he said, tapping his cane with every word, “the Bellano family will pay an additional five hundred million dollars every year.”The room went dead silent.Marco’s jaw dropped. “F-Five hundred million?” he stammered. “Sir, that’s— that’s impossible! We’re barely keeping the business alive as it is—”Gary’s eyes snapped toward him, cold and sharp. “Impossible?” His tone was quiet, but it cut deep. “That word doesn’t exist in my world, Marco.”Marco went still, his face pale.Gary took another step forward, his presence pressing down like a storm. “You think I care about your problems? You failed me. You failed yourselves. You let a single man—one man—tear your empire apart. Now you’ll pay the price.”The patriarch clenched his fists. “Five hundred million more…” His voice shook. “That’s too much, sir. We—”Gary’s cane struck the marble floor with
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The man stepped closer, his shoes clicking softly against the marble. His sharp eyes moved slowly from one face to another.It turned out he was Gary Watson, the representative of the powerful Watson family — the family that secretly supported the Bellanos for years. They had always been the hidden hand behind the scenes, the ones who made sure the Bellanos stayed strong and feared.Every year, the Bellanos were supposed to pay the Watsons one billion dollars — a kind of tribute, a reminder of who really pulled the strings. But this year, things were different. The Bellanos didn’t have the money. Their deals had fallen apart, their people were turning on each other, and Ethan had destroyed almost everything they built.Gary’s expression didn’t change as he listened. He didn’t shout or show anger. He didn’t need to. The cold look in his eyes said everything. When he finally spoke, his tone was like ice.“So,” he said softly, “you can’t pay. Tell me… are you tired of living?”The roo
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Marco shouted, his voice echoing off the marble walls, “Excuses again! You let him slip away! You let Ethan mock us!”Hugo’s cane struck the floor once, hard. The sharp crack cut through the room like a gunshot, and silence fell instantly.He fixed Parker with an icy stare. “We gave you three days,” he said slowly, each word dripping with disappointment. “Three days to clean up your mess. It’s been two weeks. Two weeks, Parker—and things have only gotten worse. We’re losing money by the day. Huge sums. And you just keep failing this family.”Parker swallowed hard, his knees almost giving way. Sweat rolled down his neck. “Please, Elder… give me another chance. I’ll fix this. I swear it.”Marco slammed his hand on the table. “You said that before! Do you think our patience is infinite? Who even is this Ethan, huh? Who’s the man that’s made a fool out of us again and again?”Parker hesitated. “He’s nothing—a worthless piece of trash.”“A worthless piece of trash?” Hugo’s voice cut like a
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Elsa sat in the quiet parlor, her hands twisting the edge of her blanket. The clock ticked loud in the silence. She tried to read, tried to breathe steady, but her chest hurt with worry. Ethan had been gone too long. Too long.She looked toward the big door every few minutes, hoping, waiting. Then she heard it — the sound of the lock turning, the door creaking open.Her heart jumped. She ran before she even thought about it.“Ethan!” she cried out.He stood there in the doorway, wet from the rain, mud on his boots, his shirt a bit torn. But he was smiling — that calm, quiet smile of his.“Hey,” he said softly. “I’m home.”Elsa pressed a hand to her mouth. Tears welled up as she stepped closer. “You’re hurt—are you hurt?”He shook his head. “No. I’m fine.”She looked him over anyway, touching his arm, his cheek. “You scared me half to death. I thought—”“I’m fine,” he said again, gently taking her hands. “Bill’s daughter is safe. She’s okay now.”Elsa blinked fast, her breath shaking.
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Ethan reacted fast. He grabbed Bill, shoved him aside, and knocked the gun out of the man’s hand with a sharp twist of his wrist.“Stay down!” Ethan hissed.Bill stumbled but caught himself. Lena’s ropes were fully loosened now. She clung to Ethan, trembling.“Go! Now!” Ethan snapped.They bolted for the metal stairs. The toothless man swore behind them. More footsteps — others were coming.Down the stairs, one step at a time. Heavy, clanging metal. Lena pressed against Ethan. Then he shoved her toward Bill.“Run!” Ethan yelled.Bill grabbed her, lifting her carefully. They splashed into the mud outside. Ethan circled back, low and fast, cutting off anyone trying to follow.The city was alive with the sound of shouts and running feet. Bill and Lena slipped into the tall grass by the riverbank. Mud soaked through their clothes.Lena’s hands clung to Bill’s neck. She was shaking, crying quietly.Bill held her close. “You’re safe now… you’re safe,” he whispered, rocking slightly.They s
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Bill met Ethan at the outskirts of the old textile mill. Broken windows. Graffiti. Wind howling through the rafters. The place smelled like oil and mildew.Ethan checked his watch. “3:12 a.m.,” he said softly.He surveyed quietly. Two guards outside. One moving inside, light flickering from his flashlight. Ethan nodded toward the office upstairs. One bulb flickered through a crack in the window. That’s where Lena was.He turned to Bill. “Listen. Four steps. Keep it simple.”Bill nodded, gripping the edge of his jacket.“Step one,” Ethan said. “Distract them. Make noise somewhere they’ll look.”“Step two?” Bill asked.“Draw them out. You hit the side gate. Keep it small. Don’t get seen.”“Step three?”“Flank. I move in from the other side. Silent. Quick.”“And four?” Bill whispered.“Extract. Get her out. Fast. Stay low. Stay quiet.”Bill swallowed hard. “I can do that.”Ethan clapped him lightly on the shoulder. “Good. One chance. Don’t screw it up.”Bill nodded. He crept toward the
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